Automobile-footboard



H. L. WILBER.

AUTOMOBILE ,FOOTBOARD. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, I919.

1,367,221. Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

Java/770w Jfda 0229 UNI STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY LJ'WILBER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF SEVENTY-SIX ONE- HU'NDREDTHS '10 BERT C. WILLIAMS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

AUTOMOBILE-FOOTBOARD.

Specification of'Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

Application filed-September 26, 1919. Serial No. 326,569.

an automobile foot board which is simple in construction, cheaply manufactured, which will not warp nor be affected by the elements, which may be readily substituted for the foot-board of certain automobiles now in general use, which is durable and not liable'to' get out of "order, and which hasnovel means for closing the slots through which the pedals extend.

My "nvention provides further anovel sheet metal foot-board which is light and strong and which has a smooth upper surface throughout.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

flanged edges 2 and provided with an opening 3 adapted to receive 'therethrou h the.

lili

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective View. of my improved foot board, partly broken away.

' Fig. 2 is a cross. section of the same, shown mounted in position on an automobile, a portion of which is shown.

ig. 3 is an under view of my improved foot board.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views. My improved foot-board comprises, preferably, a sheet metal -fioor plate 1 having controlling pedals 4 of an automobi e.

. 'The floor plate 1 is adapted to be mounted in an inclined position at the forwardend of the floor 5 of an automob1le,'as shown in Fig. 2.

Covering the opening 3 is a removable plate 6, which is preferably of sheet metal and which rests in a depressed seat portion 7, Figs. 1 and 3 provided at the upper and side edges of the opening 3', in the floor plate 1. v

The removable plate 6 preferablv' has its upper surface flush with the upper surface of the floor plate 1, thereby providing the foot board with, a smooth upper side. By reason of th1s construction the edges of the removable plate 6 are not exposed, so that nothing can strike them or get under them 1n a way tending to bend or injure the plate. Also, when the'operator moves his foot to apply the pedals, his foot can not catch against the edges of the plate 6, thereby removing an element of danger.

. Attached,'preferably to the under side of the floor plate 1 is a Supporting strip compr'lsin .a narrow metal plate 8, which is attache at'its ends to the floor plate 1 and which, between its ends, is spaced apart from the floor plate. a

The lower end of the removable plate 6 has an off-set portion 9, Fig. 2, which is insertible between the floor plate 1 and the supporting plate 8. The shoulder at the upper slde of the off-set portion 9 rests against the edge of the floor plate lat the lower side of the opening 3, thereby holding the removable plate 6 from sliding downwardly.

Pivoted to the upper side of the floor late 1 is a turn-button 10, Fig. 1, which is a apted to be moved to a pos tion over the plate 6 so as to hold the latter in the seatportion 7 y The plate 6 is provided with one or more slots 11 adapted to receive therethrough the pedals 4, said slots extending, preferably,

upwardly, from the lower end of the plate 6.

For closing the slots 11 to prevent the escape of heat and noxious fumes, the under s1de of the plate 6 is rovided with a covering 12, preferably a exible substance such as felt, leather or rubber and whichfis provided with slits 13, adapted to receive the pedals 4. The slits 13 permit the pedals 4 to move in the slotsv 11, the flexible nature of the covering 12 causing'the latter to fit tightly against the pedals thereby closing the slots, In aflixing the foot board to a machine, the plate 6 .is detached from the plate 1 and the latter is mounted in the seat rovided in the automobile therefor, the pe als 4 being inserted through theopening 3. ,The plate 6 is then slipped at its lower otf-set-end be tween the supporting plate 8 and the plate 1.

The pedals 4. pass into the slots 11 and slits 13. The plate 6 is then fitted against the depressed seat portion 7, following Which the turn button is turned so as to project over the top of the plate 6, as shown in Fig. 1, thus holding the plate 6 releasably in its operative position.

As the-upperside of the plate 6 is flush with the upper side of the plate 1, the upper surface of the floor board is smooth and .unbroken, excepting for the projection of the turn button 10.

I do not limit my invention to the struc ture shown and described, as many modifiapart therefrom, and a removable plate cov- -ering said opening and resting on said seat portion and between the floor plate and the supporting plate and having a slot adapted to receive a pedal.

2. An automobile foot board comprising a floor plate having an opening and a depressed seat portion at one edge of said opening, a supporting plate attached to said floor plate adjacent to another edge of said opening and having a portion spaced apart from the floor plate, a removable plate cov-v ering said opening and resting on said seat portion and between the floor plate and said supporting plate and having a slot adapted to receive a pedal, and releasable means for holding said removable plate on said seat portion.

3. An automobile foot board comprising a floor plate having flanged edges and an opening and having a depressed seat portion at one edge of said opening, a supporting plate attached to sald floor plate having a portion spaced apart therefrom, and a removable plate covering said opening and resting on said seat portion, and having an off-set end insertible between the floor plate and the supporting plate and having a shoulder which rests against the edge of the floor plate at the lower side of said opening, the removable plate having a slot adapted to receive a pedal.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HARRY L. WILBER 

